Today’s Yahrtzeits & History – 7-8 Cheshvan

Rav Yehuda Meir Shapiro of Lublin (1887-1933). His father, Rav Yaakov Shimshon Katz of Shatz, Romania, was a descendent of Rav Pinchas Koretz, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. His mother, Margala,

was the daughter of Rav Shmuel Yitzchak Schor, author of Minchas Shai, and a descendent of the author of Tevu’as Shor. He was also a descendent of Rav Bechor Shor of Orleans, one of the Baalie Tosefos. He was married in 1906 and took his first appointment, Rav of Galina, in 1911. In 1921, he became Rav of Sanok, then in 1924 Rav of Piotrkov. It was while there that he wrote his sefer Or HaMeir. Also in 1923, he began the first cycle of Daf Yomi, having shared this idea at the first Knessiah Gedolah of Agudath Yisrael the previous year. That first cycle began on Rosh Hashana in 1923 and was completed 2702 days later on Tu Bishvat in 1931. His other major project was to found the yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, in 1930.

Rav Simcha Elberg, editor of Pardes journal

Rav Yehuda Tzvi Eichenstein of Rozdol, author of Daas Kedoshim (1791-1847). The son of Rav Moshe of Sambor and son-in-law and successor of Rav Zvi Hirsch of Zidachov, he became the Rebbe of Rozdol and was considered one of the leading kabbalists of his generation.

Rav Nosson Dovid Rabinowitz of Shidlova (1865)

Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi of Biala-Shedlitz (1878 [or 1877]-1905), son of the Divrei Binah (Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Rabinowitz of Biala). His son was Rav Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowitz, born in 1900. The Biala-Shedlitz Rebbe was niftar only five years later.

Rav Yisrael Weltz, Rav of Budapest and author of Teshuvos Divrei Yisrael (1973). In 1927, he published a compendium of halachos and customs called Chok LeYisrael on Shabbos Erev Pesach. His father-in-law was Rav Chaim Ephraim Baloity (b. 1877), who was a student of the Shevet Sofer and whose many responsa were printed in the rabbinical journals Tel Talpiot and ve-Yelaket Yosef.

· Although in January, 1482, Pope Sixtus IV had denounced the Inquisition as cruel, in 1483 he gave into Ferdinand’s pressure and extended the authority of the Inquisition to Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia. This consolidated the Inquisition into one central body under Torquemada.
· First settlers to Petach Tikva, 1878.
· 10,000 Jews of Kovno ghetto taken for execution, 1941
· Jewish children under the age of 12 were taken from the Shavl, Lithuania and executed, 1943.

Yahrtzeits – 8 Cheshvan

Rav Menachem Nachum Kaplan (Nachumke) of Horodna, Lithuania (1811-1879). When he was nine years old, he lived in the home of Reb Yehuda Leib Ganker and learned with this wealthy man every morning. Later, he wandered through Lithuania until he came to Amshina, where he studied under Rav Avraham Kahane. Eventually, he was accepted to the Mirrer yeshiva and became close to its mashgiach, Rav Yisrael Heller. He married the daughter of wealthy man, but after a number of years, his father-in-law died. Poverty- stricken, Reb Nachumke took a job as a shamash in the Chevras Shas Beis Midrash in Korodna. However, his fame spread, and many throughout eastern Europe came to observe him and learn from him. Among those was the Chofetz Chaim, then only 15 years old.

· Congregation Bracha V’Shalom of Surinam was dedicated, 1685. It was one of the oldest congregations in America.
· Shul of Rav Yehuda Hachasid burns down with its 40 sifrei Torah,1720. The shul was repaired and used until 1947 when the Jordanians destroyed it again. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2010.
· Benito Mussolini becomes Premier of Italy, 1922. Though initially pro-Zionist and on good terms with the Jewish population, he is later prodded by Hitler to adopt anti-Semitic policies.
· Episcopal Church cleared Jews of the charge of deicide, 1964

{Yahrtzeits licensed to Matzav.com by Manny Saltiel and Anshe.org/Matzav.com Newscenter}